December 31, 2008

Yoani nails it!

In her latest post, which Ziva re-published here earlier tonight, Yoani Sanchez concisely describes the problem of the Cuban economy.

If we were to be consistent in eliminating paternalism, we’d need to start by reducing the burden of maintaining this obese state infrastructure that we feed from our own pockets. Workers who produce steel, nickel, rum or tobacco, or who are employed in the bar of a hotel, receive a minuscule portion of the sale of their production or of the real cost of their services. The rest goes directly to subsidize an insatiable State.

Now I know I disagree with many of the Cuban dissidents who would like to see an end to the embargo (including Yoani), but this is exactly why I am in favor it. Removing the embargo without the regime first dismantling the system described above will not achieve anything for the Cuban people. American businesses and tourists cannot change the way regime does business. Only the regime can.

Posted by Henry Louis Gomez at December 31, 2008 12:06 AM


You have reached an old version of a post at BabaluBlog.com, probably because a search engine referred you or you followed an old link. If you'd like to view this post at its new home you can do so by clicking here and searching for the post on our new site. Tip: Take note of the date of this post and use our calendar feature to find it in its new home.